Budget HTPCs v3.0: Featuring AMD’s Bobcat APU!

Is this the right type of PC for me?

If you’re looking for a PC to listen to music, browse the web, look at pictures, watch TV or DVD/Blu-Ray Disks, you’re at the right place. If this is not what you’re looking for, check out our other Computer Systems instead.

About Hardware Revolution’s Budget HTPCs:

Good Performance with a reliable, low-noise design
These computers are designed to be tucked into a corner of your living room, kitchen, or bedroom and can be used to power a TV in a discrete manner (people won’t notice that the TV content is actually coming from a fully fledged computer).

As such, our focus won’t be on offering the best performance for the dollar, but it will instead be focused on offering good performance while maintaining excellent reliability, attractive and compact cases, low noise, and relatively low temperatures.

In addition, I’ll be offering suggestions for accessories on ways to provide input for the HTPC/SFF, ranging from small remote-like controllers to full size keyboards and mouses.

RAM:

Tier 1 and 2:

4GB is really inexpensive and will ensure smooth video playback, especially with Blu-ray disks, where 2GB could cause shutters. 4GB is preferable to ensure smooth video playback along with Windows and background applications such as your anti-virus, web browser, backups, etc.

Alternative

$45 – G.Skill 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1333MHz – 8GB is also an extremely inexpensive option at the moment and although it won’t deliver much of a performance increase, it is a good way to future-proof your PC. RAM is so cheap, and if you have a little extra cash, 8GB of RAM is something to consider.

Storage:

Tier 1 and 2:

Seeing as this is an HTPC, I went for “green” hard drives that spins slower at 5400 rpm.

That allows for lower noise, lower power consumption and lower heat dissipation.

No worries though, 5400 rpm is still plenty fast enough for video playback, even at 1080p. Boot times will suffer, which is why I’ve added an option for a SSD, which is optional for Tier 1 and recommended for Tier 2.

The motherboards unfortunately do not feature hardware RAID. However, if you get two identical hard drives, you can use software RAID within an operating system such as Windows 7. I’d recommend RAID 1 to protect your data in case of hard drive failure.

Tier 2 Only:

Is this the fastest and highest capacity SSD that you can get for $105? Nope.

However, you don’t need the fastest SSD for a HTPC and all the storage that you really need is 20GB to install Windows (if you don’t choose to go with Linux that is) so that your HTPC boots fast.

I picked the Intel 320 40GB because it is one of the most reliable SSDs available on the market today and also because it includes a 2.5″ to 3.5″ drive adapter and a much-needed SATA cable (The Tier 2 motherboard includes two SATA cables when you’ll need three (HDD, SSD and Optical Drive).

This case, available in black and silver, doesn’t offer the option to upgrade to a Micro-ATX motherboard in the future, but it allows you to use a sound card as it has full-sized expansion slots. Furthermore, it supports a full ATX size power supply. It also comes with a 140mm fan for efficient cooling.

This case, available in red, black, and silver, is one of the most flexible Mini-ITX motherboards on the market.

It doesn’t support Micro-ATX motherboards, but it supports up to six 3.5″ hard drives, has a 120mm fan and a 140mm fan, supports a full ATX size power supply, has reasonable CPU clearance, and accommodates all but the largest graphics cards.

TV Tuner:

The motherboard has a single PCI-Express 16x slot, which I left open if you choose to add a dedicated PCI-Express sound card.

However, nothing stops you from using this USB TV Tuner if you wish to watch or record TV. Note that it is optional and that its price is not included in the build because not everyone wants or needs a TV Tuner.

Sound Card:

Free: 6 or 8 Channels Onboard Audio

This motherboard does include integrated onboard sound, which is good enough for most people

If you’re an audiophile or just enjoy high quality sound, then onboard sound, no matter how good it is, won’t cut it for you, so here are three excellent PCI-Express 1x (yes, a PCI-Express 1x card will fit and function in a 16x slot) sound card that I recommend to you.

Pick the one that suits your needs.

Compatibility note:

If you go with the Silverstone case, then your only choice is the ASUS Sonar DX, which include a half-height PCI-bracket, which is compatible with the Silverstone case.

On the flip side, if you go with a LIAN LI case, you can pick any PCI-Express 1x sound card.

Accessories:

This is the least expensive input option at $51. For that price, you get a keyboard that features a numpad, an optical trackball, a scroll-wheel, two buttons for left and right mouse buttons “clicks” as well as many multimedia buttons.

With a good ThinkPad like key feel, and potentially infinite battery life, this is a good input device if you want a basic keyboard without worrying at all about battery life. Works great with the Marathon Mouse.

This is a high end, full size input device for your HTPC. It connects via Bluetooth, has a full size keyboard, and a fancy touchpad.

Recommended operating systems:

The operating system cost, if there’s one, is not included in the total cost. The two reason for this are:

The budget only considers hardware.

You may be able re-use a previous license, go with an open-source OS such as Linux or , if you’re so inclined and are aware of what you’re doing, use torrents.

If you decide that you need a need OS, here are some recommendations:

Windows 7

Despite Linux gaining more and more support, Windows still is the platform of choice for compatibility at the moment. Considering that you’ll have 4GB of RAM or more, along with a dedicated video that also has memory (512MB or 1GB), you’ll need a 64-bit version, as 32-bit is limited to 4GB of memory for the entire system, which is not enough now, nor in the future if you decide to upgrade.

Windows 7 is by far better than Windows Vista, looks better, more functional, less annoying, consumes less resources and brings DirectX 11 to the table.

Three Available Versions:

Windows 7 Home Premium: The basic edition, with all the looks, most of the functionality and DirectX 11.

Windows 7 Professional: If you want the virtual XP mode, you’ll need at least the Professional edition. Also required if you want to backup to a network, using the built-in backup mode in Windows.

Windows 7 Ultimate: To help protect data on your PC and portable storage devices against loss or theft with BitLocker and to work and switch between 35 languages.

OEM vs Retail:

The OEM version allows you to only install it once on a computer. You cannot transfer the license to another computer in the future and you do not receive support from Microsoft. It’s the same type of license you get when you get Windows on a desktop or laptop that you buy from Dell, HP and such. It’s less expensive, but gives less flexibility. Ideal if you intend on keeping your computer for many years.

The Retail version is the full version, which allows you to transfer the license to another computer in the future and you can call Microsoft if you need any form of support. Ideal if you intend on upgrading/changing your computer down the road.

Other than that, you get the same features on both, only the license differs. The price between the two differs obviously.

Linux

A lot of people these days boots more than one OS. Linux is a wonderful choice: powerful, cool, and cheap. Take your pick of distributions and have fun! For Fedora, Ubuntu, Debian, Slackware, and Mandrake, try Distrowatch.com, Cheapbytes.com, LinuxQuestions.org or one of the many others.

While Linux does not offer the wide compatibility of Windows with video games, gaming on Linux is still possible, through projects such as Wine, Cedega and Crossover. For more on the topic of Linux Gaming, I invite you to read this excellent article from AnandTech: Linux Gaming: Are we there yet?

What about Word processing, Excel and other Windows-based programs that you need? Linux being an open platform, there are many free alternatives that will answer your needs. For Word/Excel and such, try OpenOffice.

Cost: Free

Conclusion

What do you think of the brand new Budget HTPCs?

Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.

Coming up soon: Updates to Mainstream and High-End HTPCs

Now that we’re done with the budget HTPCs update, you can expect updates to the Mainstream and High-End HTPCs within the next two weeks.

Budget vs. Mainstream vs. High-End HTPC

Here are the pros and cons of each system, to help you figure out which one is best adapted to your needs:

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About The Author

HR Founder - Computer expert with over 16 years of experience in building, fixing and modifying PCs.
Over the years, I’ve developed a passion for PC hardware and now I enjoy helping others build their own PCs!
In April 2008, I launched Hardware Revolution and ... Read more at my about page

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